We have been working with Dick Wilk for a long time. He is an experienced desert racer turned tuner and suspension specialist known for building powerful machines and improving their suspension. Recently, Dick brought us his latest creation based on the Husqvarna TX300. He was amazed by the stock engine, calling it the best 300 engine he has ever worked with. Despite his passion for modifying engines, he decided to leave this one stock, an unusual choice for him.
In addition to the engine, Dick put a lot of effort into upgrading the suspension. He installed his Hybrid AER kit on the air fork, which includes new valving and a spring setup. The goal was to improve versatility, provide a more comfortable ride, and achieve better balance. As for the shock, he made modifications to enhance traction, improve performance in rough terrain, and make the bike suitable for both desert racing and woods riding.
Dick has a special fondness for Husqvarna motorcycles, having raced them since the early 1980s. So, for his personal machine, he chose graphics that embrace the “Heritage” look. He also installed special wheels, made comfort updates, and added features to enhance high-speed handling and off-road protection. Let’s take a closer look at his modified Husqvarna TX300, the modifications he made, and the reasons behind them.
• Dick opted for a Scalvini cone pipe and silencer to handle the exhaust system of the TX300.
• Being an avid Husqvarna fan, he loved the “Heritage” look of the TX300. Decal Works took care of the graphics while Tusk rotors were added. The bike received black hubs with gold rims, Dunlop tires, and Nitromousse foam inserts in both wheels.
• For off-road riding, Dick installed a Seat Concepts Comfort saddle to provide better feel and traction while riding. The comfort shape of the seat maintains a similar contour to the stock seat at the front, allowing the rider’s legs to remain close together. Towards the middle, the seat tapers out to distribute the rider’s weight over a larger area. The Element cover of the seat features four traction ribs.
Custom gold/black wheels, Dunlop MX33 tires, a Primary drive chain and sprockets, Flexx bars, and a Scotts steering damper enhance Dick’s TX300.
The rear end of the bike underwent significant changes to match the performance of the Hybrid forks. A stiffer spring was installed for a 200-pound rider, and the valving was adjusted to provide smoother action, improved rebound, and increased resistance to bottoming out. The new no-tools adjusters made testing easier, although the rebound adjustment was a bit challenging. Nitromousse foam tubes were added inside the Dunlop MX33 tires, and the bike also received Tusk discs, sprockets, and a gold O-ring chain. The stock white plastic was replaced with OEM white plastic covered with graphics designed by Dicks Racing and produced by Decal Works. Additionally, a P3 carbon fiber skid plate with a linkage guard replaced the stock plastic skid plate.
Dick chose Flexx handlebars and a Scotts steering damper mounted on a BRP mount for improved feel, comfort, and stability. He also addressed the vulnerability of the radiator hose located between the frame and exhaust pipe. To prevent potential damage from rocks or debris, he added a tidy-white plastic splitloom protector.
Dicks Racing has been refining the AER forks since their introduction in 2017. Dick’s Hybrid system incorporates a new cartridge that accepts a spring while still utilizing the AER cartridge at a significantly reduced pressure (140psi down to 55psi). This eliminates the initial harshness caused by the excessive AER pressure. The Hybrid system retains the lightweight, progressive, and adjustable characteristics of the AER forks while providing a plush, controlled, and capable performance on big hits. STR also developed special push-button bleeders to complete the package.
Dick Wilk was impressed by the response and strength of the new powerplant. The throttle-body injection system and the electronically controlled power valve have greatly improved the powerband compared to the previous generation. The only modification he made to the engine was adding a Scalvini cone pipe and silencer. Most of his development time was spent on suspension tuning. The all-new frame required new settings to achieve the desired results. Both the front and rear suspension needed adjustments to provide better performance in rocky sections while maintaining proper support through whoops and G-outs.